Madison times., 1887-03-26
The WISCONSIN SONG-elRD.
4 Peu-Sketch Of Ella Wheeler Will
cox in Her New England Home.

the busy 5ustling town of Meriden,
Conn, within easy distance of the
station, is an attractive country house.
two stories and pointed roof, which
have of late taken the place of the
mansard; an artistic railing surrounds
the house. giving within the inclosure
space for flower beds. The house is gray
and is a modification of the so-called
Queen Anne and modern style. This
is my destination; this is the home of
Ella Wheeler WiroX. the Wisconsin
song-bird, who cane from the far West
10 form new abiding place, at her most
congenial marriage, in this Connecti-
cut town.
My visit is expected, and hardly is
my hand upon the gate when the front
door is flung widely open by curly
headed elf In vision of white satin
drapery and | am made welcome by
the hostess. for it is none other. Ella
Wheeler Wilcox is ANYTHING but con-
ventional or formal. She creeps right
into your heart and stays there. She
knows it would have been the more
proper thing to have her guests admit
ted by her neat household, shown to
the drawing-room and their cards sent
her. But that wouldn't be character
site. She is as impatient as a child
and dose everything in an unexpected.
girlish way. An enthusiast where she
is found-and she is fond of almost
everybody - she looks on the sunny
side of life and extracts all its pleas
ures. She has always done this, even
in her young girlhood when she first
began TO write and money was much
more an object than it is with her to-
day. That was before her poems had
become so widely sung and read. be-
fore they yielded her an income which
has enabled her to provide comfortably
for those she holds dear and for the
mother from whose love of books and
poetry Mrs. Wilcox derived much OF
Der talent.
My hostess bid me welcome. and we
passed from the hall into the parlors,
which are connected by sliding doors.
while beyond the dining-rcom. &c.
The parlors are at the left of the en-
trance hall and are furnished brightly
and comfortably; books. engravingS. a
? ano and knicknacks fill up the pic
ture. One cannot imagine this poetess
IN the role of a housekeeper, nor does
she essay this branch OF her home; it
runs smoothly apparently as BY magic.
but really by trustworthy hands. To
entertain, to write, to converse, TO ad-
vance new ideas, and to devote much
time to the perfect enjoym of her
married life. which is an unusually
congenial one, are her occupations.
Nothing so touches her heart as To be
tod some woman is unhappy in her
marriage. AS might be supposed from
her poems, she is of an intensely emo
tional nature. She is all smiles. all en-
io' ment when suddenly some story of
distress will fill her eyes with tears.
She is great friend of women, and is
always made happier to know that she
aas gained the love of woman.
After a time We went through the
mouse. There is a pretty guest cham
Der on the second floor. all in blue, and
beyond series of apartments belong
ng to my hostess; then she led me into
small. cosy-looking room, directly
over the front door. This is my
study" she said. Here / do all nv
writing"
A portiere hung before the entrance,
directly opposite the one window. Un-
ierneath was lounge with sofa pill
!ows, and in front of ii a white fox
skin rug. All around were pictures
and souvenirs. The apartment wore
an indiv duality. '.Mr. Wilcox is al
ways bringing me something for this
ROOM" she said. II take more pride
IN this little study than all the rest of
he house. Ii is exclusively mine, you
lnow." There were shelves filed
with books. many of them rare. On a
small table near was an unusually fine
copy of the "Rubaiyat' of Omarkhay-
yan. the astronomer-poet of Persia.
II am very fond OF that book. said
Mrs. Wilcox. as she showed me the fine
Illustrations by Elihu Vedder. Isn't
Vedder weird? 1 admire him very
much" she said. The object that most
attracted my attention was large
writing table, with green top, placed
against the wall. This is where all the
later poems have been written. Mrs.
Wilcox does not use desk, but real
work-a-day table, which was Uttered
with pens, pencils, stationery and
great many pretty devices for holding
these things A pretty clock in the
design of palette licked away cheer
ily. A picture of Byron was another
ornament. while in the centre was
very handsome brass inkstand, heavily
ornamepted with cloisonne enamel.
This was a present from Mr. Wilcox
before they were married. II was de-
lighted to get it; but just think. S65 for
an inkstand 1 would not let my hus-
band spend money so fOOlishlv for me